YAB Review: “Beauty and the Beast”

October 17th, 2012

Today's post comes from Youth Advisory Board member Skyanne who tuned in to the premiere of the CW's "Beauty and the Beast" last week. Skyanne is impressed so far by the modern retelling of the classic fairytale which combines mystery, action, and character-building. She explains that it's not just another paranormal show with a twist and hopes that future episodes live up to the first!

What was the biggest draw?

Honestly, I just needed something new to watch. The fact that the "Beauty and the Beast" pilot came on right after the season premiere of "The Vampire Diaries", the only other show I watch regularly, made it perfect. Plus, the previews totally drew me in — contemporary twists on "Beauty and the Beast" are my favorite and the show looked like an original take on the fairytale.

What did you expect going in? How much did you know beforehand?

I knew very little about the show, other than it was a modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast." I didn't pay much attention beforehand except the previews I caught on TV and was not familiar with anyone in the cast. I am rarely impressed by anything on TV, and I tuned in with low expectations. The night before it premiered, a friend and I were discussing the show, and I said, “I don't know, it's probably going to be another lame attempt at some paranormal romance with a twist”, though I will admit to secretly hoping I was wrong.

How did you tune in? Did you watch commercials?

I watched the pilot as it premiered on the CW. I did watch the commercials, though I generally spent more time checking my phone or Facebook than paying attention to them.

Sum it up:

The show opens as main character Catherine Chandler, played by Kristin Kreuk, witnesses her mother's murder. Chandler is then chased through the woods by the murderers,…

Want to talk to us about the article or dive into a custom study?

The Newsfeed

“It[‘s] only about the music for me, nothing else dictates what I listen to, I either like it or I don't.”—Male, 28, WA

A new app is getting teens’ attention as it rises through the ranks of the new social apps to know, even surpassing Houseparty’s popularity—but the catch is it’s “piggyback[ing]” on Snapchat. Polly allows users to create anonymous surveys that they can send on Snapchat (there's that anonymity allure again), meaning many users may not have actually downloaded the Polly app, so they “could slip away if friends stop posting questions.” For now though, the app amassed 20 million users and 100 million answers last month, proving it’s one to keep an eye on. (TechCrunch)

Designers are taking to social media to “shame” the retailers ripping off their work. When Zoila Darton spotted a Forever 21 shirt eerily similar to the one she helped create to benefit Planned Parenthood, she posted a tweet to let the brand know their copycat didn’t go unnoticed—and quickly gained attention from fashion editors and others. This isn’t the first time pieces have been copied by Forever 21, but designers have a hard time taking legal recourse against the powerful company. Instead, social media posts are often their best bet. (NYTimes)

BeautyCon is continuing to take “Sephora and Coachella and smash it into one thing” to appeal to young consumers. At the latest L.A. event, 20,000 beauty fans came to meet their influencer idols and try out the latest makeup trends, surrounded by empowering slogans and messages—true to the brand’s idea that “beauty can be something beyond a concealer culture.” Of course, brands were there “to win over the new generation”—ChapStick Duo offered cotton candy while Rimmel London’s “slayground” gave attendees a chance to set down their makeup and enjoy a jungle gym and swing set.
(The New Yorker)

It turns out saving money might not be cord cutters’ top reason for switching to streaming. Instead, a recent Magid Associates survey found that “the attractions” of SVOD programming (aka their content) is their top reason for making the move, followed by the overall decline of TV-viewing among 18-24-year-olds. Cable companies are trying to reel The Post-TV Gen back in by offering lower-cost cable bundles (so-called “skinny bundles”), but stepping up their shows might be a better first step to reversing the “accelerating” trend of cutting the cord. (TheStreet)

Pokémon is reaching out to a new generation of trainers with its first app for preschool-aged kids. Pokémon Playhouse follows in the wake of the massively successful augmented reality app, Pokémon Go (which was so popular that we put together an entire infographic on it) but won’t be AR-based. Instead, Playhouse will tap into the collectibles trend by featuring favorite characters like Pikachu for kids to collect by completing activities. There will also be puzzles and more in the app’s “interactive park.” (Kidscreen)

“I'm literally listening to music any time it is socially acceptable.”—Female, 28, MN